HCM City – new destination for MICE tourism in Southeast Asia
Ho Chi Minh City will become a new destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Southeast Asia thanks to its dynamic development.
An aerial view of HCM City by night (Photo: mytour.vn)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City will become a new destination for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Southeast Asia thanks to its dynamic development, espe💝cially in transport infrastructure and accommodations.
The remark was made by domestic and foreign travel agencies, investors and experts attending a seminar introducing destinations in the Greater Mekong Sub-region held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City on September 7.
According to Duong Thi Hoang Yen, a representative from the municipal Department of Tourism, HCM City is a place connecting many cities and provinces nationwide as well as 24 major cities in the world, with unique architectures, beautiful landscapes and entertainment centres. It has nearly 120 three to five-star hotels with 14,787 rooms.
HCM City owns a lot of favourable conditions for developing MICE tourism such as good infrastructure, convenient transport and high-quality accommodations, said Gilbert Whelan, CEO of the US’s Riverlege company.
However, participants noted limitations in developing MICE tourism in the city, including traffic congestion at peak hours, environmental pollution and poor services. They suggested the city increase English training for traffic police and volunteers to better support foreign visitors.
Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s Travel Department, affirmed that HCM City and Vietnam in general will do their utmost to provide the best conditions for tourists.
Other cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Ha Long will be new destinations for MICE tourism in the future, he added.-VNA
Ho Chi Minh City, the largest economic hub in the south, has great potential to become the leading destination of Meeting Incentive Conference Event (MICE) tourism in Southeast Asia, experts said.
Vietravel, a big travel company in Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Gyeonggi province are cooperating to attract MICE tourists from Vietnam to the Northeast Asian nation.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
An aerial view of HCM City by night (Photo: mytour.vn)
